Ironing board and supporting means therefor



Dec; 16, 1947. PETERS 2,432,932

IRONING BOARD AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed 'Jan. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a n1 (aw-'4. /23

m M y/////// 4 a F INVENTOR. A. KAREN" PETER A TTORNEY.

A. K. PETERS Dec. 1 6, 1 947.

IRONING BOARD AND SUPPORTING MEANS 1 I-IEREFOR Fil ed Jan. 17', 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 )NVENTOR. A. KAREN PETERS BY a A T TORNEK Patented Dec. 16, 1947 IRONING BOARD AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR A. Karen Peters, Cincinnati, Ohio Application January 17, 1946, Serial No. 641,718

This invention relates to a folding portable ironing board.

It is an object of this invention to provide a folding board of simple, durable and economical construction so made and arranged as to be folded into a compact and small space in order that the same may be placed and maintained in a clean condition in a traveling case or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a folding ironing board with such an arrangement of parts that when it is unfolded or extended it may be used in any place by placing it upon a table, hotel dresser, or like objects.

-It is a still further object of this invention to provide a folding ironing board having two main sections and an intervening piece or section, the three sections covered with padding and cloth and hinged together whereby the cloth side of the section of the two end portions of the board may be folded into a position juxtaposed each other whereby they may be in contact with or, separate from each other as desired.

This invention further includes a folding ironing board equipped with a plurality of holding devices for securing the board to a table or the like, and more particularly to a board having one or more vacuum cup holding devices suitably spaced upon the bottom thereof to allow the smaller or tapered end of the board to extend beyond the edge of a table, desk, or the like so that said end is adapted for us in ironing smaller portions of garments or clothing requiring an extended board. One or more vacuum cups placed near the hinged end of said overhanging portion of the board allows rubber supporting members or bumpers to be spaced in from the pointed end thereof so that they may rest upon said table or the like, the vacuum holding means and supporting members or bumpers providing the necessary hold-down effect to prevent tipping of the extended end of the board.

The special and novel phases of the invention herein disclosed is an ironing board comprising a section with a rear end, a rounded front end, and a tapered portion intermediate said ends, a suction cup attached at the rear end of said section, and supporting members mounted on the tapered portion of said section with a portion of said tapered portion projecting outwardly from said supporting members, to provide an unobstructed nose portion, the distance from said supporting members to said rounded front end being considerably less than the distance from said supporting members to said rear end; whereby a relatively heavy downward force acting on the 1 Claim. (Cl. 38-130) projecting portion of the section, may be resisted by a comparatively lighter force, by said suction cup, and will be better understood by reference to th following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of a table, or dresser, and showing the ironing board, referred to above, in position upon said dresser, a major portion of the padding and cover being removed to show the hinged portion of said board.

Figure II is a plan of the upper side of and showing the invention in an unfolded position, the padding and cloth removed.

Figure III is a plan view of the lower side of the ironing board.

Figure IV is a side elevation of the ironing board without the padding and cloth, some parts shown dotted to show the position thereof when folded for storage.

Figure V is a side elevation of the invention, some parts shown dotted in folded position.

Figure VI is an enlarged partial top view of the invention with a portion of the padding and cloth removed to show the center portion of the ironing board and a portion of the hinges.

Figure VII is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure VI.

Figure VIII is an enlarged partial view showing the invention in folded position.

Figure IX is a, perspective view of the ironing board collapsed and enclosed in a casing provided for the same.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral I0 denotes a table or dresser, with drawers l2 and top l4 convenient for placement of an ironing board on the top thereof.

The ironing board proper consists of three sections I5, l6, and II, which are hinged together transversely as will be presently described. Sections l5 and I! are connected to the end sections l9 and 2|] respectively of a three section hinge having sections I9, 29 and 2 I. The central section of the board I 6 is interposed between sections l5 and I1 and secured to the central section 2| of the hinge as clearly shown in Figure III. Section I6 is a very narrow board in actual use, however it is shown larger in the drawings to clarify the description.

The three section hinge is clearly shown in Figure VIII, said hinge being secured to the lower surfaces of the ironing board, however it allows the ironing board to be folded, thus providing space for the padding 22 and cloth 23 as used on this type folding board. In folding the the edge and end portions of said board and is held in place by a flexible binding, element 25.- positioned in a hem or pocket 5| in the periphery 21 of said cover 23, the binding element holding said periphery in engagement with the bottom surface of said board sections l5, I5 and A piece of elastic tape or cord 50 is secured permanently to one edge of the hem 5| andhaving its other end provided with a hook 52 to engage an eyelet 53, or other suitablefastening de-, vice on the opposite hem 54 of the cover 23. The tape is suitably arranged or placed tolie parallel with and adjacent section I6 as shown in Figure III to prevent the cover 23 from snapping ofi o the board when the board is folded or unfolded.

Sections l5 and H are each provided with four supporting members, or four bumpers or supports 28, 29, 39, 3|, 312, 33, 34, 35 mad e of rubber or other suitablematerial. Said supporting members or bumpers are suitably positionedto provide a stable ironing board. Bumpers 3|), 3|, 32. and 3.3; are positioned and secured to the boardpon. tions upon or near the hinges, to form a, rigid mounting and prevent the ironing board from becoming unstable. A vacuum cup 31 is positioned between the bumpers 32 and 33 adjacent to the inner end of section I5. Said, cup 3]- is located near the hinge end of said sections l5 to form a hold-down device when said invention is placed upon a table or the like. Whenv the invention is placed upon a dresser I 0 asshown in Figure I, with the rounded and tapered end portion extending over the end of said dresser H1, it is desirable to have supporting; members. or bumpers 34 and 35 a definite distance in from the pointed end of said board and the-board suitably arranged with said bumpers 34 and 35 at the end of; said dresser. Said supporting members 34. and 35 e ted n a t red'por on f theb ard with a portion of said tapered;sectionprojecting outwardly from said supporting members; to pro vide an unobstructed nose portion. Bylooatin-g one or more suction cups 3]; nearthe him 1; a definite distance from said silPPOEting membfilqs orbumpers 34 and 35 a mechanical advantage-of leverage based on the fulcrum point of; the bumpers 34 and 35 is given in favor Of. the cup or cups so. that less suction is, required to hold down i r g board up n he. o}? o a table or the like than if the suction cup or cups were located elsewhere. This makes it possible that a relatively heavy, downward force. acting on the pr ting section 2.5 of t a d 1 15. berefsisted by a comparatively higher force, by said suction up 31,.

The hinge members i9, 20. and 21 are clearly shown inFigure VIII. Each of said hinges is of, the improved butt type hinge with pins 4.0, 4|, 42 and 43.. All the portions of the hinge are so arranged and positioned as to be flush with or below the top of the board proper. The three sections being substantially continuous are adapted when arranged for use to present a smooth, substantially continuous upper surface, so as to form a perfect ironing board. Various types of hinges may be incorporated, as long as the ironing surface of the board remains continuous and smooth.

The ironing---board has mounted on the end 25 a, suitable. eyelet 35, and section 1.1; has mounted thereon an eyelet 46 which has secured thereto a cord 47, said cord 41 being adapted to engage said. eyelet when the board is in folded position: to hold the parts thereof in said position when the board is not in use, or stored, or arrangedwhereby it can be enclosed in a casing 56 provided-for, thepurpose. Said casing 56 is clearly shown in Figure IX, arranged with the ironing board: positioned therein. The casing is provided with handles 51 and 58, and further provided with a fastening device, or zipper, 59 to keep the casing closed, thus permittingthe to be conveniently'carried from placeto place, as on-an automobile trip or the like.

Inthe drawingand specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment oi the inven-z a, a d a th h s e ifi ms a m l y d theyare usedin a generic and descriptivesense only. and not for purposes oi limitation. thescope of. the. invention being set forth in theappended claim.

An ironing board comprising a section. with a rearend, a rounded front end, and a tapered por- Wm n rmedia e d. ds, a was ne che at. the ar d Qt aids ct ni 51 49: P a ne m b r m nt Q r h aper d p rt on. sai section w aror moi sa d ap r d nor: s. r e tin wtw rd y rom. s u po n m m e to. P de an n bs r cted. n se por time. th distast f om saidwe rtme: members to Said d d om n e g o si era ly ess han. 2 di a ce t am. 2.1% SUPR IUPI; m m s o. said? re end); wh r by a. e e y he vy dewnward. o ce actin n; t p omot n or on f es t n may be resisted. by a com ara vely ishter rce, by said suction cup.

EEFERENQES, QITED The following references are of' record in the file of: this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 170,750 Long Dec. 7, 1875 853,969 French July 2, 190.7 364,617 Culbertson Aug. '27, 190.7 914,776: Aarons n g Mar. '9. 19.09 ill-6.5.551 .Held- Mari 3.0. 190.9.

1,266,993 Romans May 2.1, -918 1,579,955 Evans v .Jan, 26, 1.926 1;;622A51 Kroschell Mar. 29, 1-927 1:.196J1l4 James Mar. 17, 51.931 1,875,922. Harbert Sept. :932 1,9335%. Ha ard. 0.01 3.1-, 19.33 2 0Q3fi f1 MGLBOd June 4, 1:93., 3,6 .3 V u hn ..----.s. Ju e 5', 19. 9 2.2 0.69 Seaman i Aug. .6, 1-940 2221 4.824. Smith et a1. Sept. 134.0 

